Making a pitch to promote and patronise children's films in India, veteran Bollywood lyricist-director Gulzar today said that not enough cinema is being made for kids and emphasised on the need to set up film societies and centres in every state to expand and encourage work on this front.
"There are not enough films for children. There are not enough cinema halls also which patronise children films or release children films. I think probably because of the commercial side of it. I think it should have been made possible," he told a group of journalists here.
Gulzar was here to participate in the 18th International Children's Film Festival of India (ICFFI), which commenced today and concludes on November 20.
He recalled that earlier more children's shows used to be screened, especially morning shows, and that some of the corporates had patronised it too.
"And if that demand had remained, there would have been more productions, there would have been more supply," he said.
Regretting that over 300 films were lying with Children's Film Society (CFSI) without a regular theatre release though they are shown in festivals, he said the society at large, including corporates and schools, can patronise such films.
Noting that Jaya Bachchan had tried to expand the activity of children's films to states during her tenure as Chairperson of CFSI, he said such efforts would have yielded results.
"But I think somewhere as a society we lacked commitment towards children. As a result, there is no literature, no performing arts, no cinema for children," he lamented.
Gulzar said every state should have a children's film centre and take it as a commitment to the cause.
"It may be affiliated to the Central Film Society but every state should have a society. Theatres should also be made available. You cannot leave everything to government. As a society also, you should move forward. You can ask the government what you want," he said.
